Blogs from Bali, Indonesia, Asia - page 259

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Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud November 2nd 2005

We took a local flight from Flores to Denpasar, Bali and then hopped in a taxi with a Dutch couple to the cultural town of Ubud, about 2 hours from Kuta. It is a lovely place - the streets lined with art galleries, craft shops, clothes stalls, bead shops and endless cafes and restaurants. We found a lovely Balinese style guesthouse with a pool, and this became our oasis and retreat from the heat after long walks in the surrounding paddies and fields. We left early our first morning there and took a long trek along a river gorge, through rice paddies and unbelievably green fields. It was hot and humid already at 0730am. We reached the top of a steep climb along the ridge and came upon a couple of small houses and local artists' ... read more
Wayan the Artist
So called bridge across the gorge.
Climbing out the other side

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud October 12th 2005

It's called "active meditation". Our facilitator, Selena Bulan, explained that this meditation technique is different from what we usually do at the tailend of our yoga class - where we sit down, cross our legs, our eyes closed, breathing in and out, reciting a mantra. In active meditation, we have to move, literally, and dance, with our eyes closed. Dancing must be easy for Selena. Tall, slim, long curly hair, she generates an aura of natural born goddess. She's a woman who can't be loved and possessed because has to be adored and worshipped. She's both earthy and spiritual. Selena's one woman who can dance well because she can just let go and be her own goddess self. And me, I'm such a horrible dancer. I'm not surprised. Really. Reared in repressed, guilt-ridden Catholic environment. ... read more

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud October 11th 2005

n a workshop about Eros and the Divine, and its significance in writing, our writing guru, Jan Cornall, mentioned that the principle of Eros is about “being alive and feeling alive.” Tapping into that energy, according to this Aussie performance artist/playwright/poet/songwriter, will help us in our writing process. Meditating, Jan said, will help us utilize that energy, noting that as a writer and practicing Tibetan Buddhist, “desire and longing are intrinsically linked to my meditation practice.” She then proceeded to guide us to meditate - with our eyes closed, our backs straight, breathing deeply. She asked us to think about a time that we felt some huge passion. To feel it, taste it, smell it, hear it. After about 10 minutes of meditation, she asked us to come back to the center, open our eyes ... read more

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Kuta October 9th 2005

So from Melaka we caught a local and then express bus to KL. After walking the streets with our heavy packs and trying to avoid touts we finally found the Golden Triangle. As per usual Keith left Lisa with the heavy packs and an iced Milo at a roadside eatery and went off in search of somewhere to stay, clinging onto the trust Lonely Planet. Our first choice was full so after a couple of viewings we settled into our air conditioned room at the Green Hut Guesthouse. We bumped in to Shayne and Charlie who we met in Tioman, couldn't believe it! KL was by far the most modern city we have come across in SE Asia. Like Melaka there are a lot of Chinese and Indian residents. We could not get over all the ... read more
Eating Indian style
Buddhist temple in Melaka
41 floors up

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud October 7th 2005

Some updates: *posted my first entry about Bali (Life Goes On In Ubud) * blogged about my travels in Pokhara (Grrrl Power in Pokhara) and Vang Vieng (Bored in Vang Vieng) *will be heading to Bali Spirit soon for active meditations with Salena * miss you all! but very happy here! *and to fitri: see you soon in jakarta!... read more

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud October 7th 2005

I came to Bali burdened by the images of bloodied victims of the recent bombing plastered in the pages of the Malaysian dailies. I was in KL when the second bombing in Bali occurred . I called my parents, and they were very worried. My dad has specifically asked me to return to Singapore, where it’s safe, no terrorist bombs will kill you (and I was thinking well, in Singapore, you’ll die not from bombing but from depression, heartbreak, psychosis and sheer boredom). My sister, who’s working in Singapore, also dissuaded me from going to Bali. I told them not to worry too much about me. That I’m not going to Kuta. That Ubud is different from Kuta. That I won’t be going to any nightclubs. That I’m going to Ubud just to attend the ... read more
Musical Kids

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Ubud October 5th 2005

ap·pre·hen·sion (ăp'rĭ-hĕn'shən) pronunciation n. 1. Fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; dread. 2. The act of seizing or capturing; arrest. 3. The ability to apprehend or understand; understanding. 1. Fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; dread. (well not dread - too strong) 2005 October 1st - I was sitting in another crumbling hostel in Kuala Lumpur, killing a day or two with movies and shopping, waiting for my flight to Bali. In Kuta, Bali's main tourist center Islamic extremists were carrying out suicide bombings. 27 people died as a result, and hundreds were injured, many seriously. I had a ticket to fly to Bali on Monday 3rd October, not much time to make a decision and a tough one as well. I spent Sunday researching, reading the reports, scouring the forums, and trying to ... read more
Temple Carvings
Ubud Market
Bali Kids

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Sanur September 30th 2005

It has been almost a month since our wedding on September 5th, and the time has flown! The last guests left on September 15th, so we have been spending the last two weeks winding down from all the action and having a honeymoon in the Gili Islands off Lombok. The wedding was actually a lot of fun. I had always thought that the bride and groom were not really supposed to enjoy the wedding, too busy being stressed, but I was pleasantly surprised. After much research, we decided to have the wedding in the gardens of the Hyatt hotel followed by a reception at one of our favourite beachside restaurants. The wedding was at 5pm, but we had some photos taken in the lush tropical grounds of the Hyatt beforehand. We had planned it to be ... read more
In the Gardens of the Bali Hyatt Hotel
The Perfect Setting
The Perfect Setting

Asia » Indonesia » Bali » Kuta September 27th 2005

My my Grandmother has reminded me that it has been over a week since my last update. It hasn't really seemed pressing as I am on Bali time now. I can't believe that I leave today. The days just sped by. I met a young doctor from NY here who just finished is residency and planned on traveling and has ended up staying on this one beach for 30 days now. It really pulls you in. I have been snorkling, parasailing, playing with monkeys, swinging on vines, surfing, and a whole lot of nothing. I rented a motorbike for $3 a day and have been staying pretty local to Kuta beach. The traffic is pretty bad in the cities. The hawkers are pretty bad in the tourist areas with are mainly filled with Aussies and tourist ... read more
wood doorway
dancers

Asia » Indonesia » Bali September 20th 2005

Two updates in as many days, you lucky lucky people. Not as lucky as me, mind. I just spend the day exploring a few coral reefs, checking out the little fishes going around their daily business. It is quite simply one of the most awe inspiring things I have ever done, and I am only a day into the course. I am being trained up by a great big Australian guy called Murray. The actual practicalities of diving are interesting, it is a more complex process than I thought it would be, but very easy to get to grips with. The coral reefs here are teeming with life, and are only a short swim from the beach. There is no way you can compare snorkling with this; the experience is much more vivid and allows you ... read more




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